Tractor.



A. H. REED.

' TRACTORJ APPLICATION FILED APR. I1. I91? Patented Aug. 13, 1918,

3 SHEETS-SHEET INVEN TOR.

ATTORNEY A. H; BEE'D.

TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 11. um.

Patented Aug. 13, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 21 NM c m Q INVLMTOR. findreW/f. Reed A'TTORNEY Patented Aug. 13, 1918.

3 SHEET5-SHEET 3' MENTOR Andrew/ Feed v ATTORNEY I. I. U. N.

A. H. REED.

TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. H. 1911.

UN lTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW II. REED, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOB 0F ONE-HALF T0 H. SAHLER,

OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

TRACTOR.

Yb all aw/tom it may concern:

Be it known that I. ANDREW H. Been, a. citizen of. the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of J uckson and State of ll-l'issouri, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Tractors; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exert description of the invention, such will enable others skilled. in the art to which it uppcrtnins to make and use the some. reference being had to the accompany lug d.' wing and lo the letters and figures of referent marked thereon, which form a port of this .ipcificn 'ion.

My invention rel: -1 to tractors and more particularly to tractors of a type adopted for agricultural purposes; the principal objcct of the invention being'to. so construct and assemble the parts that the tractor provided may be successfully operated between rows of standing grain spaced at the usual distance.

A further obj of the invention is to provide an endless track attachmntwhich may be used when the machine is operated in marshy or very soft ground, to provide an extended bearing and traction surface that will prevent the drive wheels miring into the soil.

A further object of the invention is to provide drive and guide Wheels having novel fezituresof construction and adjustment and means for differentially transmitting power to the drive wheels.

ith the foregoing objects of the invention in view andother objects which are set forth later in the specification; the invention resides in the arrangement and combination of the parts and improved details of construct-ion hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure I is a perspective view of a tractor constructed according to the present invention.

- Fig. His 9. side elevation of the same, parts of which are broken away to illustrate the iuclosed parts. I

Pi III' a. plan view of the same.

Fi'g- IV is front view of the tractor, par ticularly illustrating the mounting of the guide wheels.

Fig. V is a vertical section on the line -V. Fi II, showing the dilferential connection o thedrive wheels.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1918.

Application. filed April 11, 1917. Serial No. 161,156.

Fig. VI is a plan view of a. tractor wheel equipped with traction shoes which may be used on the drive Wheels when. the belts are removed.

Fig. VIII is a detail view illustrating the mounting and adjustment of the belt and drum carrying arms. v

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a tractor constrmrtcd according to the present invention wherein the operating and driving ports are substantially mounted on a. carrying frame comprising longitudinally extending side rails preferably of I-hean': construction and rigidly joil'icd at their forward ends by :1. cross beam 3 and at the rear ends by spaced beams d d; the latter being c1nployed to support the drivers platform, comprising abutting plates 5 which are attached to the said beams H by bolts (3 which may be removed to permit removal of the plates and access to mechanism mount ed thereunder which will presently be described.

Suspended from the frame beams 2-2 and revoluble in bearings 77', is a cross shaft 8 on which the hubs 9-9' of paired drive or traction wheels 10--10 are revolubly mounted. Thehubs of the Wheels are spaced from each other and revolubly mounted on the shaft 8, therebctueen in e sprocket wheel. 14 over which is run a chain belt 15, that extends over a sprocket wheel 16 fixed on a counter shaft 17 that is revolubly carried in bearings 18 mounted on the under side of the frame beams '..--2 for- Wardly of the bearings 7- -7.

Mounted on the she. 17 in fixed relation to the sprocket wheel 16, is a miter-gear Wheel 20 and meshing therewith is a. pinion 21 carried at the end of a shaft 22 which is connected through a suitable transmission, i n

able nature, but is herein indicated respec tively by levers 29-30 which are mounted on the platform 5 and are operiitively eonnected withfthe said parts through rods 31- 32. Theanotor control devices, such as the throttle, and spark levers are omitted heavy, so that it may be operated on ground hving maximum slope or grade.

As the present machine is driven by the chain connection, it is apparent that, due to constant strain and wear on the individual links, the chain will gradually lengthen, and it will be necessary that it be tightened from time to time. In order that such tightening may be accomplished without the ren'ioving of links from the chain, I

' have provided for adjusting the axle hearings 7-7 along the side rails to move the axle 8 re'arwardly to produce the required tension on the chain; the means for effecting such adjustment consists in slidably fastenin the bearings 7-7 to the beams 22, by bolts 37' which I extend through the bearing flanges 38 and through slots 39 in the beam flanges 40, and I lock the bearings at an adjusted position by means of set screws 41 which are threaded through ln s 42, at opposite sides of the bearings 7- to en'ga e' the ends of the flange portions 38, sothat by proper adjustment of the screws the bearings may be moved and locked at a position to produce the necessary tension on the-chain belt.

To permit the tractor to turn in a minimum amount of space, I provide' the drive wheels with a differential driving connec- 9-9' of the drive wheels.

tion whereby the wheels may revolve at different speeds While the tractor turns, and at the same time both may be driven by the engine according to the resistance against the traction surface. The differ ential'may be of any preferred type but in the present device, comprises the sprocket wheel 14which is revoluole on the shaft 8 and carries bevel pinions 44 on shaft 45 mounted in radial alinement with the shaft 8 Within the wheel 14; the said pinions meshing with inwardly facing bevel gear wheels 46 46' that are fixed to the hubs With this means of connection, it will be seen that as th tractor travels on a straight line there wil. be no relative movement of the gears 46--46, but when the tractor turns to either side,

gears 44, to revolve faster than ic whee] While at the same time both are being driven from the engine; 7

In order to keep dust, dirt, moisture, etc, from the driving chains and differential the outside wheel is permitted, by the com-' steerably mounted on the end members 56 of laterally telescoping axle members 57-5 8 which are fixedby U-bolts 63 and clamp plates 64 at an adjusted position to a bar 65 which is pivotally mounted by a' pin 66 extending centrally from a cross beam at the forward end of the frame to provide pivotal support for the frame at its forward end. The wheels are steered by means of a wheel 71 suitably mounted at the rear of the tractor and which is connected with the guide wheels through a steering rod- 72 that simultaneously actuates both wheels.

. To adapt the tractor for use on marshy or soft ground, I provide the drive wheels with traction belts 90 90' which are adapted to run on the wheels 1010 and over drums 91-91 revolubly mountedon a cross shaft'92 carried at the free ends of arms 93 pivotally mounted on the axle 8 adjacent the bearings 7'7; the said arms being urged downwardly by springs 94 which are attached to the beams 22' and bear against the said arms to urge the track belt against the ground to provide the additional traction.

To provide for easy removal of the traction belts from the machine, I provide the carrying arms 93'at their mounting ends with open end sockets 95 which are adapted to receive the shaft 8 therein, and atthe outer ends of said arms, I provide sockets 96 which are adapted to seat over bearing collars 97 carried in U-shaped plates 98 wherein the ends oftthe shaft-92 are mounted and within which the ends of the arms 93 may be fastened by bolts99; To remove the belts from the wheels, the arms 93 are released from the bearing plates 98 by re -moving the bolts 99, and may then be with drawn from the axle 8. The belts are then provided at their longitudinal edges with sockets 103 for re'ceivingears 103 extended from the opposite edges of adjoining links, and the said links are pivotally'nonnected by cross bolts 104. The inner face of each link is also provided with inwardly projecting lugs 105, whi h are adapted to seat, as the wheel revolves, in sockets i043 in the face oi" the wheels Ill--10, and in so kets 106' in the tensionini drums so that, slipping ot the track lmlts on the drive wheels is prevented.

Each link is also provided with a trans verse rib 107 which is adapted to register with grooves 0F--lOU in the drive wheel and drums respertiv ly, to retain the trarlcs in fundioual position on the wheels, and to give additional trartion to the trarh belts also provide the outer faces of the links with lugs 110 similar to those on the inner Faces which are adapted to grip the ground sur faces as the links are surcessively brought in contact thermvith.

llhiled have shown the tractor equipped with the endless track members it, is the in tention that when surh are not needed they may be removed and trartion shoes 15? at tached to the. wheels as is illustrated in Fig. Vi. It is also intciulrd, when the tractor is used for pushing; a header or the like, that, the arms Eli-l be reversed to extend rearwardly so that the traction belts will engage the. ground hark oi instead of ahead of the ground wheels.

l also provide a yoke 15?: which may be attached to the axle H after the HHS 93 are removed and by which plows or their like may be drawn; the said yoke being held against. lateral movement atv its rear end between hanger arms 15:? suspended beneath the frame.

To prevent dust. or weather from injuring the opt-rating parts ot the machine, I prefer to cover the same with a hood 156 which ext'rnils from the reacto the front of the machine to int-lose the drive wl'ieels the engine and iutern'iediate ma hinery.

in order that; the tractor may he operated by a person seated on a drawn machine, I mount the operating levers 29- -30 and steering mechanism on a. beam 160, which is adjustably attached to the beam 2 by means of bolts I61 extended through the beam flange and .longitudimdly extending slots 162 in the beam 160 and whichmay he loosened so that. the'heam 160 may be extended rearwardly from the tractor frame to bring the motor and steering parts to a position accessible to the operator adjustment; or the rods Iii--32 and steering rod 72, is effected by telescoping the latter in tubes 163.

\Vith the tractor constructed as described,

it. is apparent that various harvesting or ground working implements may be attached or drawn thereby and if necessary, the driver may operate the engine from the drawn implement; by extcndii'ig'the operating and guide rods rcarwardly; this being made possible by the adjustable feature in' the said rods and by moving the plate which rarries the sta'i'idard and levers rearwardly on the platform to a position accessible to the operator when he is seated on the drawn inarhine.

it is also apparent that the endless track arrangenu-nt' will permit the use of the machine in lields oi soft or wet. ground where the ordinary tiarlor could not: be used, thereby preventing the delay ot' grail) harvesting due to surh conditions of the tield.

It. is also a 'iparent. that when the endless trawl; is not needed it. may be removed and the wheels provideil. if necessary, with grip shoes as illustrated in Fig. VI, and used as the ordinary farm tractor.

\Vhile only certain specific uses of the tractor have been referred to. I do not wish to limit myself to those mentioned. as it is apparent that. the. iin ilement is adapted for various uses.

I'laving thus described my intention, what; T claim as new therein, and desire to sernre by Letters-Patent, is:

I. in a tractor. the combination with a suiiade frame, of an axle mounted on the frame. drive wheels revolubly mounted in spaced relation on the axle. a differential drive merhanisn't revolul'ily mountedon said axle intermediate the drive wheels and opeizitivelv connectingthe same, arms pivotall supported from said axle exteriorly of said drive wheels, a transverse axle mount-- ed. in the free ends of Said arms, belt Wheels revolubly mounted on said axle in aline-ment with said drive wheels, endless tract-ion belts operating over said paired drive and belt wheels and presenting extended traction surfaces, and means for 'yieldingly resisting lifting of the belt wheels.

52. In a tractor. the combination with a, suitable frame, of an axle mounted on the frame. drive wheels revolubly mounted in spaced relation on the axle,- a differential drive mechanism revolubly mounted on said axle intermediate the drive Wheels and 0peratirely connecting the same, arms pivotally supported from said axle exteriorly of said drive wheels, and adapted to extend either rearwardly 0r forwardly thereof, a. transverse axle carried by the free ends of said arms, beltwvheels re olubly mounted on the said axle in paired alincment; with the drive wheels. and normally resting on the same horizontal plane, traction belts operating over said paired belt, and drive wheels to present an extended traction surfaet,'and means for yieldingly resisting upward movement of said belt wheels.

3. In a tractor, the combination with a suitable frame, of an-axle mounted on the frame, drive wheels revolubly mounted in spaced relation on the axle, a differential drive mechanism revolubly mounted on said axle intermediate the drive wheels and 0perat ivcly connecting the same, arms pivot-- ally supported from said axle exteriorly of said drive wheels and adapted to'extend either rearwardly or forwardly thereof, a transverse axle carried by the free ends of said arms, belt wheels revolubly mounted on the said axle in paired alinement withv to adjust the tension of said belts.

4. In a tractor, the combination with a suitable frame of an axle mounted on the frame, ground wheels mounted in spaced re lationon the axle, a differential drive mechanism revolubly mounted on said axle intermediate the ground wheels and operatively connecting the same, arms pivotally supported from said axle and adapted to ex tend either rearwardly or forwardly thereof and having yoke portions at their inner ends, bearing members slidably mounted Within the yoke portions of said arms for receiving? said axle and adjustable within the yoke portions to determine the radial length of said arms, a transverse axle mounted at the free ends of said arms, belt wheels revos lubly mounted on the said axle in paired alinement with the ground wheels and traction belts operating mer said paired belts and ground wheels to prevent extended traction surfaces, for the purpose set forth.

5. In a tractor the combination with a suitable frame of an axle amounted transably mounted within said yoke portions of said arms for receiving said axle and ad justable therein to determine the radial length of said arms, a transverse axle removably supported by thefree ends of said arms, belt wheel's revolubly mounted on the said axle in paired alinement with the ground wheels, traction belts operating'over said paired ground and belt wheels and means fixed to the frame for yieldingly resisting upward movement of the belt wheels. In testimony'whereof I ailix m signature.

-, ANDREW REED. 

